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Van Gogh Painted Turbulence

rangeva writes "Nature is reporting that Van Gogh works have a pattern of light and dark that closely follows the mathematical structure of turbulent flow. From the article: 'Vincent van Gogh is known for his chaotic paintings and similarly tumultuous state of mind. Now a mathematical analysis of his works reveals that the stormy patterns in many of his paintings are uncannily like real turbulence, as seen in swirling water or the air from a jet engine.'"

8 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. So much for fine art... by luder · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just proves his head was full of air and that he had a single neuron, precisely located on it's center. When he cut one of his ear, he created a stream of air, coming from the interior of his head (high pressure) to the outside (low pressure). The single neuron, placed in the middle of the stream, obviously caused some turbulence, explaining why he "painted turbulence".

  2. Amazing by JanneM · · Score: 5, Funny

    Absolutely amazing. I mean, what are the chances that he ever saw turbulent streams or windswept clouds living in rural Europe or that he took his inpiration from those pattern as much as from all the other organic/natural patterns he used everywhere in his art?

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    Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
    1. Re:Amazing by arivanov · · Score: 3, Funny

      That depends.

      Many variables involved.

      Quantity and quality of paint thinner sniffed this morning.

      Quantity and quality of absint drank with coffee for breakfast

      Quantity and quality of the dirt on the knife used to cut your year off causing a infection of the remaining stump

      Quantity and quality...

      Dunno, while I like Van Gough and I would not go for his methods of achieving artistic inspiration.

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  3. Soviet Russia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    In Soviet Russia, turbulence paints you!

  4. Re:Intuited? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    'ear 'ear.

  5. Bah by pr0nbot · · Score: 4, Funny

    Amateur - I code turbulence!

  6. Re:Newton by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    That's a bit like saying you can't catch a ball tossed to you if you don't know Newton's laws.
    Look, maybe not all of us are super-athletes like yourself, but I certainly couldn't routinely catch a ball thrown to me until I learned about Newton's laws. Arcs! The ball goes up and it will come down in an arc. Genius! I had been trying to jump up and catch the ball and it kept hitting me in the crotch before I learned about Newton's laws. It was a painful 18 years.
  7. Re:Newton by Vengeance · · Score: 1, Funny

    I don't know about you, but every dog I've ever had has been a first-rate mathematician. Their ability to calculate the parabolic trajectory taken by a ballistic tennis ball is first rate.

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